Bathing-cap and method of making same.



A. C. SQUIRES. BATHING CAP AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. 1915.

1 06,047. Patented Nov. 28, I916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. SQUIRES. 0F KEYIPORT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0DAVID BASCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BATHING-CAP AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed July 29, 1915.

To (171 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Am'nun C. Souums, citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Keyport, in the county of Monmouth and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBathing-Caps and Methods of Making Same. of which the following is aspiwification. v

My inventionrelates to improvements in bathing caps and like thin rubberarticles and in methods of making the same, and particularly to meanswhereby the cap is rendered readilyadjustable to various sizes of heads,and whereby the cap is held in place firmly. yet without such pressureas may cause discomfort to the wearer; also to a method of manufacturewhereby complete curing of the rubber of the cap or like article issecured.

My invention also comprises an improved connection of the fasteningtapes to the body of the cap.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of bathingcaps and like articles; to permit ready adjustment of the cap to varioussizes of heads, and to provide means for holding the cap in placefirml-ywithout exertion of undue pressure; to provide an improved connectionbetween the top of the cap and the fastening tapes, whereby both thefastening tapes and the body of the cap itself may expand and contractfreely in the region of joinder of such tapes and the body of the cap;and in general to provide a cap which shall be watertight, which shallbe capable of being made in attractive form, which shall be capable ofready adjustment, and which shall cause no discomfort to the wearer;also to provide a method of manufacture whereby complete and uniformcuring of the plaited portions of the article is insured.

I will now proceed to-describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features inclaims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 shows a top view of the cap; Fig. 2 shows avertical section through one of the plaited portions of the cap,parallel to the corresponding fastening tape; and Fig. 3 shows a sideelevation of the cap in place.

In the drawings, 1 designates the body of the cap, usually formed ofsheet rubber or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

Serial No. 42,579.

rubberized fabric. The cap is provided with plaited portions 2 at thefront and rear, and tapes 3, preferably woven elastic tapes, are securedto these plaited portions. I have indicated these tapes 3 as providedwith clasp members 4 and 5 of well known form, but do not limit myselfto the use of such clasp members, as obviously the tapes may be tiedtogether to hold the cap tightly to the head of the wearer.

Heretofore, bathing caps have been provided with elastic bands adaptedto completel y encircle the head of the wearer, and not provided withmeans, other than the elasticity of the band, for adjustment todifferent sizes of heads. It has been found that such elastic bandsfrequently cause great discomfort to the wearer, the pressure of theband not infrequently causing severe headaches. Bathing caps also havebeen provided with tapes adapted to be tied to hold the cap to the headof the wearer; but so far as I am aware, no bathing cap has heretoforebeen made which is provided with opposite plaited portions, preferablyat the front and rear, and with woven elastic tapes secured to suchplaited portions, the construction being such that the cap may stretchand contract in the region of juncture of the cap body and the tapes. Tosecure this ability of the cap to expand and contract in the region ofjuncture of the cap body and tape, the cap is constructed as follows:The material to be used in forming the body of the cap, which preferablyis pure sheet rubber, having been cut to form and, preferabl hemmed orturned "over at its edges, and semi-vulcanized, is covered over withcement at the points to be plaited, and the cement is allowed to dry;2'. 6., the solvent of the cement is allowed to evaporate com pletely.Plaits are then formed in the usual manner by folding over the material,the surfaces so folded sticking fast to one another by reason of thecement covered surfaces of such fold... Strips 6 are then applied to theplaited surfaces, such strips being applied to both surfaces. Thevulcanization of the body of the cap is then completed, preferably bysubmission to the vapor of chlorid of sulfur. The body of the cap iswashed thoroughly aftersuch vulcanization, and dried, and then theclastic woven head bands or tapes 3 are applied, preferably by stitchingthem to the ber of plaits of the material which can be vulcanizedsimultaneously with the singleply material forming the greater part ofthe body of the cap, without either overvulcanization' of the single plyportion of the cap, or under-vulcanization where a plurality of pliesoverlie one another. Where the strips 6 cover the plaits, there arenecessarily several thicknesses of rubber; and if to such thicknesses beadded the material of the head bands, the resulting mass is too thick tobe vulcanized simultaneously with the body of the cap; and in general,in order to secure such vulcanization, at such points of relativelygreat thickness, as is absolutely required, the single ply portion ofthe cap will be over-vulcanized, and as a result will tear easily. Ihave found that by effecting the vulcanization before the applicationoftthe head bands, it is possible to vulcanize all portions of the capsatisfactorily Without over-vulcanizing the single-ply portion of thecap.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A bathing cap or the like article comprising a body of thin elasticmaterial plaited in opposite portions, and tapes extending across andsecured to such plaited portions and adapted for fastening the cap orother article in place, such tapes being elastic where secured to theplaited pottions.

2. A bathing cap or like article comprising a body of thin elasticmaterial plaited' in opposite portions and having portions of theplait-folds integrally united, and tapes extending across and secured tothe. integrally united portions of said plaits, such -tapes beingadapted for fastening the cap or other article in place, and beingelastic where secured to the plaited'portions.

3. A bathing cap or like article comprising a body of thin elasticmaterial plaited in opposite portions, strips of elastic materialextending across portions of the plaitfolds and united therewith, andtapes extending across said strips and secured to the plaited portions,said tapes adapted for fastening the cap or other article in place, andbeing elastic where secured to the plaited portions.

4. The herein described method of forming bathing caps and the likewhich comprises applying cement to opposite portions of thin sheetrubber material while the latter is in a partly cured condition,plaiting'the so-ccmented portions and applying strips of elasticmaterial to both sides of the plaited portions, completing thevulcanization of the material, and then applying head bands over saidstrips, and securing such. head bands in place.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification inthe presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR o. sQUIREs Witnesses: i

H. M. MARBLE, PAUL H. FRANKE.

